Gas Drilling Commence in Ruvuma Basin

Oil exploration and production company Aminex (LON:AEX) announced that gas drilling at the Ntorya-2 appraisal well in the Ruvuma basin in onshore southern Tanzania recenlty commenced.

The Ntorya-2 well is planned to be drilled to an estimated total depth of 2,860 meters and is targeting the same sandstone channel complex as found at Ntorya-1, but located further up-dip.

The Ntorya-2 appraisal well is located approximately 1,500 meters southwest of the Ntorya-1 discovery well, which flow tested at 20 million cubic feet per day of gas (mmscfd).

Aminex has a 75% operated interest in the well, while the remaining 25% are held by oil and gas investment company Solo Oil (LON:SOLO).

Neil Ritson, Solo’s Chairman, commented: “Solo is especially excited that the spud of the Ntorya appraisal well is now imminent since this well has significant upside potential for Solo’s asset holdings in Tanzania.”’

Tanzania has the second largest natural gas reserves in East Africa with more than 57 trillion cubic feet (tcf) so far discovered, behind Mozambique with 100 tcf according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

The Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) estimates that the country’s gas fields are large enough to make Tanzania the next natural gas hub in Africa.